Credit: The Associated Press

Kennesaw State's Jeremy Howell, right, is greeted by his teammates after scoring against Alabama in the seventh inning of an NCAA college baseball regional game on Monday, June 2, 2014, in Tallahassee, Fla. Kennesaw State won the rubber match over Alabama 4-2 to move on to the super regional expected to be in Louisville. (AP Photo/Steve Cannon)

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Looking at the way Kennesaw State coach Mike Sansing has built his program reminds Louisville coach Dan McDonnell of his start with the Cardinals.

The teams meet in this weekend's Super Regional with a berth in the College World Series on the line.

Though the Cardinals (48-15) are looking to make their third CWS appearance since hiring McDonnell in 2007, he recalls the struggles of building a title contender from scratch. The Cardinals hadn't won an NCAA tournament game before he arrived.